1. Ryan out.

This is very big news with far-reaching consequences. I have three main takeaways…

Being Speaker is a tough job that many times is more trouble than it is worth. Ryan is honestly just tired of it and knows he can spend more time with family, make more money, and not have to deal with backbiting politicians by doing something else. Many are saying he could step into lead the American Enterprise Institute, a job Arthur Brooks just left.

The Trump fatigue factor is real. Speaking from a little bit of experience, it is EXHAUSTING to be a Congressional Republican in Trump’s Washington. The tweets. The drama. The hysteria from the other side. The demand for unconditional loyalty with none given in return. Some love all that because they see it as the president shaking up the place, just as he promised. In practice, it takes a toll physically and emotionally. Trump fatigue is a real factor in why 43 House Republicans have announced they are retiring, running for another office, or have already resigned. With Ryan’s exit, expect that number to increase.

House Republicans are in trouble. History isn’t on the GOP’s side. Neither is voter enthusiasm. The economy was until this tariff business started spooking everybody. Democrats need 24 seats to win the House majority. That is well within reach, and Republicans just lost their most reliable fundraiser/campaigner. If you were looking for a canary in the coal mine indicating time is running out for the GOP majority in the House, Ryan’s retirement is probably it.

I might write about this more over the weekend. Anyway, here are some good reads in case you want to go deeper…

What’s worse: the Montgomery system is almost certain to lose its accreditation if things continue down their current course. That would have DEVASTATING consequences for local students, the Montgomery area, and the state.

Why is it happening

Richardson, who is leading the state’s intervention of Montgomery Public Schools, wanted to sell the Georgia Washington Middle School building to Pike Road for $9.8 million. That money would be used to allow the system to meet its state-mandated requirement to keep a month’s operating expenses in reserve.

The Montgomery Board voted to block the building’s sale and then AEA filed suit, arguing that Richardson has a conflict of interest because he previously served as a consultant to Pike Road schools.

What’s next

AEA says their lawsuit was to “protect students and employees at Georgia Washington” and other schools. That appears to have backfired, because now teachers and other employees (read: AEA members) are going to lose their jobs.

Oh, and Georgia Washington is closing anyway.

Don’t expect that to change anything, though. Based on what I saw and heard at yesterday’s press conference, not even the stark reality of several hundred layoffs are going to change any minds.

There are some political upshots, though. Read more about all of that in my story HERE.

5. Ivey bans “loaned executives.”

Gov. Kay Ivey issued an executive order late Wednesday banning the practice of so-called “loaned executives” in the Governor’s office and other Executive Branch agencies.

This is an upshot from the Bentley Grand Jury report, which said state law does not bar individuals from serving in top governmental roles while being paid by outside companies, firms or organizations. This so-called “loaned executive” practice was common throughout the Bentley administration.

Ivey’s executive order prohibits an executive appointee and/or staff member from soliciting a private entity to provide a loaned employee to the state or from seeking compensation from a private entity for work performed for the state.

The order does allow for temporary exemptions during times of natural disasters and other emergencies.

Interestingly, in the obligatory “whereas” section of the EO, Ivey kind of makes the argument that this was already prohibited by the state ethics code.

“Whereas the Ethics Commission, through Advisory Opinion 2015-16 concluded that an employee who is paid from a source other than public money but who performs all the functions of a public-sector employee cannot serve under that arrangement without violating the fundamental principles underlying the Ethics Act.” Hmm.